Am I cheap if I pay less than full admission?

Hi again!

We%26#39;re quite interested in heading to the Museum of Natural History during our visit to NYC. My question is whether we will we be made to feel like cheap tourists if we pay less than the recommend entrance fee?

I don%26#39;t know what a psychologist might say about this but my theory is that if we pay less for entry then we%26#39;d be inclined to stay longer, and eat in, and maybe even spend a little at the gift shop. Sounds weird but that%26#39;s how I suspect it would work out! The Museum might end up getting more out of us if we can get away with paying, say, USD$15 for entry and the SPace Show if, indeed, we can do just that (can anyone confirm?).

I%26#39;m all up for spending the entire day there so long as I can afford to buy a bite to eat (I am assuming the on-site food prices are inflated?) and something to drink.. but if we pay the prices set down by the Museum - that%26#39;s USD$24 x 2 or around $70 Aussie - then I can%26#39;t really justify spending $10 on a sandwich!

What%26#39;s the general consensus on this one?

I%26#39;ll make it easy for you...multiple choice answer:

A) You%26#39;re cheap and should stay home

B) It%26#39;s totally OK, don%26#39;t feel bad about it

C) Could care less ;o

Thanks in advance!

Mel

Am I cheap if I pay less than full admission?

B. People do this all the time.

Just remember that at AMNH there are some exhibits (and the IMAX movie) for which you have to pay full price--the suggested fee only refers to the basic museum.

Am I cheap if I pay less than full admission?

msMelburnian, i have been thinking the same thing, but have decided i am going to just be confident at museums and walk up to the ticket window, hand over perhaps $15 and say %26#39;two please%26#39;....my bf has said it%26#39;s all up to me to do that as he thinks it seems a bit cheap, but hey, the exchange is so crappy now that every little bit counts i think!

so.... B, i know i will be doing just that!

j.

I%26#39;d go for B :-D

Last time I went to the Met, I did only pay $10 (I think, half whatever the suggested was), simply because I was only going to see one section and was only going to be there a short time. First time I%26#39;ve not paid full suggested price though for a museum, so I didn%26#39;t feel bad :-D

Another option to consider is becoming a member of the museum. While it%26#39;s not normally cheaper than being a %26#39;cheapskate%26#39;, it typically comes with benefits in addition to entrance fees - like discounts in the shops and restaurants.

It%26#39;s not the AMNH, but I became a member of the Met (albeit while the AUD was riding on a high) and I ended up ahead after having bought out the shop...well it seemed like that anyway. :)

(D) (other), If you can afford it, Why Not !!! or at least pay as much as you can !!

Goes to a great cause and institution !!!

B. I think it%26#39;s fair enough to pay what you can afford. I was of the understanding that the entrance fee structure is as it is so that people of all economic means can enjoy these Museums.

There must be many people who pay less than the suggested fee and I would imagine no-one would give you a second glance for doing so. :)

';B';, but I agree with Urban. As you can glean, the answer is ';B';, but if you can afford it, or if the exchange rate is greatly in your favor, your dollars will help NYC%26#39;s institutions right now.

Also, I notice in some trip reports that people write, ';I gave a decent amount of $10 and I got a surly look from the cashiers.';

Um, hate to break it to you, that%26#39;s their normal countenance. It%26#39;s not personal.

It%26#39;s completely ok to give another amount, but from memory, some of the special exhibitions have set prices. The permanent collection is %26#39;pay what you can%26#39;.

Do what you want but please don%26#39;t ask us to justify it.

I%26#39;m a member of AMNH so I never pay there, but at the Metropolitan, where I%26#39;m not a member, I never paid full price and was never, ever made to feel bad. I just walked up and said, $5 for one person and they gave me my admission without any comment, verbal or non-verbal.